Spicy Thai Meatballs + Word of 2016

As I mentioned earlier this week, I truly love the beginning of a New Year and I personally think it’s fun, healthy and significant to set yearly goals (aka for all you haters out there, NY Resolutions). However, I get it that a lot of people are against “New Year’s Resolutions.” If you just can’t bring yourself to promise to read 10 books this year, eat more celery or visit your grandmother more often or whatever your resolutions would’ve been, I have a different thing for you to try.

Last year, at the beginning of 2015, I read something somewhere that suggested instead of making goals for the year, to choose one word that summarized a goal for the year. For example, you could choose “health” or “patience” or “laughter.” Whatever. I know it sounds a little dorky, but then all year instead of tracking goals, you just filter your life and choices through that word. In 2015, I made my word “Jammin” (a tribute to my favorite Bob Marley song…ugh long story. Please don’t judge). Throughout the whole year I focused on loosening up more, enjoying life more, and not being quite as Type A as I normally am. It really worked for me! It’s an easy, quick reminder on what you’re trying to focus on in your life. For 2016, I’m choosing “consistency.” I would say day-to-day I’m generally in a good mood, but it’s just too easy to get me out of a good mood. I want to be the type of person that isn’t easily fazed by a broken dishwasher, a dog’s surgery, a car that cuts me off, a rude email…you get the point. So all year long, I’ll be focusing and meditating on being a consistent person. I really encourage you to try this method, especially if you’re against overall NY Resolutions!

Barbara’s word for 2016 is closeness.

ANYWAYS. Back to food which I know you probably already scrolled through all of my psychobabble for the day. Do you know I actually started USC as a psychology major until I realized how much math you have to take? Oh what? You don’t care and you want to talk about spicy thai meatballs? What if I just ended the post here? And the spicy thai meatballs were just never discussed? How mad would you be?

I need to get out of the house more.

If you’re the type of person that needs to “grab and go” a lot, making a big batch of easily-portable items like meatballs guarantees that you’ll always have a meal or snack on hand that packs in protein. These are super easy! It’s also a great trick to form the meatballs ahead of time when you’ve got 15 minutes, and then just pop them in the fridge, and remove and put on the baking sheet when you’re ready to cook.

SPICY THAI MEATBALLS

INGREDIENTS

2lb. ground beef

1/2 cup almond flour

1/4 cup coconut aminos

2 eggs

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 roasted red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup uncooked spinach, chopped

1t fish sauce

1T hot sauce (I used sriracha, as always)

1 large handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 lime, zested

salt + pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. I think for meatballs mixing with your hands works best.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Form the mixture into meatball sizes of your choice and place on the parchment lined baking sheets.

Bake for 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees, or until they are cooked through and the tops lightly brown.